The Debt Collector: An Underground Bad Boys Romance Read online

  But the girl shook her head, squeezing Tessa’s hand like a lifeline. “They will, they will find me, I need to go. Now.”

  Tessa put a firm hand on her shoulder as she tried to wiggle out of bed.

  “You’re in no condition to go anywhere. If you’re in immediate danger, we should call the police…”

  Now, tears fell like rivers on her ravaged face. “No, you can’t … they have cops in their pockets, they all know each other…”

  “Honey, breathe … we’ll find a solution. First, tell me your name.”

  “Allison … my name is Allison.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Allison. I’m Tessa. Now, tell me what happened to you.”

  Through sobs and whispers, Allison started to tell her how she’d left home when she was sixteen and a rebellious teenager, hoping life would be better without her controlling parents. Little did she know the dangers lurking nearby. Pretty, she fell for a man who would later be her downfall. Thinking herself in love, she followed him until the stark awful truth hit her in the face. One night, he had sold her to a gang. That’s when her fairy-tale turned into a horror movie.

  Tessa’s heart bled for the girl who had suffered so much over the course of a year. And she understood her fear and knew from experience that it would take time and people who could prove to her that she could trust again. And there was also the possibility that the threat was on its way to the hospital already. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t the first girl who’d landed in her emergency room in that state and options were scarce.

  Allison appeared so tired, and Tessa knew she had to act. “Do you trust me, Allison? I may have a solution to get you out of here and into hiding until you can recover.”

  A very faint sparkle of hope shone on her face. “Is that possible? They are so powerful, they know everybody and everything. It’s a miracle I got away.”

  Tessa took out her cell phone and searched for the right number. One hand still linked with Allison, she waited for the call to connect.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Nigel? How are you?”

  “Tessa? It’s a bit late for a chat isn’t it?”

  Knowing damn well how late it was, she ignored his sarcasm. “Yeah, I’m in a jam and wanted to know if I could send one of my patients your way? And if your husband could come and help, I would be very grateful.”

  The heavy silence on the other end of the line made her hold her breath. She’d known Nigel since they’d finished medical school together with the same belief that innocents and the lost had to be protected. While Tessa decided to head to the emergency unit, Nigel had opened a community clinic. Nigel’s husband, Tyrone, had been a cop for years before he’d changed career and become a social worker. However, he had always kept his nose to the ground.

  Her and Nigel had kept in contact, and once more, she was able to ask for his help, with half said words.

  “I see. I suppose we need to be discreet about this one too?”

  She heard him shift, and someone growled by his side.

  Release flooded her, grateful her friend understood. “If possible, yes. Until everything can be sorted out.”

  “Very well. What’s your patient’s name?”

  “Allison.” At her name, the girl started trembling again, and Tessa offered her a reassuring smile.

  “If I were you, I would use an ambulance this time. Direct route. And if you fear for her safety, do it now, or as soon as possible.”

  “That was my plan. She’ll need care on arrival.”

  “And I’ll be there.”

  Tessa ended the call and immediately paged Mabel. If there was one person she could trust, it was the nurse.

  When Mabel came through the door, Tessa was glad she caught her before she had left.

  “Doctor Freeman?” Mabel was all business when she entered the room, clearly assessing the situation.

  “Mabel, please bring me the transfer documents, but we won’t use her real name, just in case. And have an ambulance ready. Would you be available to accompany Allison?”

  The girl tightened her hold on Tessa, almost making her wince.

  “Allison, Mabel is a friend, and she will be with you all the way. I’m sending you into the care of my friend Nigel. He’s a doctor too. You will be safe with him. His husband is a former cop, but he’s a social worker now. If you agree to go, you have to promise me two things.”

  Allison nodded, and she continued. “Lay low while my friend takes care of your health and safety. No outside contact. And trust them, tell them everything and I swear they will help you. And protect you. Can you do that?”

  Allison started to cry again but nodded through the tears. Tessa watched as Mabel acquiesced in turn and went to fetch the documents.

  “What will I do?” Her voice was small and childlike.

  “One thing at the time. That’s what you’ll do. Heal and talk. Simple. You will be safe, remember that. You can get out of this. I believe in you.”

  Despite the pain, Allison crawled on the bed to take Tessa in her arms.

  “I’m scared.” Her voice muffled in her lab coat.

  “Don’t be. My friends are careful and reliable. Your nightmare is over now.”

  At her words, Allison nodded and lay back on her bed. Tessa went to Mabel near the door who handed her the documents. They murmured as low as they could.

  “Transport will be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Good, do the usual. And please be careful.”

  Mabel puffed as if she had been insulted. “I know the dangers of what we do better than you, Tessa. It’s you I’m worried about. The risks you’re taking are too great. How many more will you save?”

  Tessa looked at Allison, her voice low but determined. “What about her? Look at that poor girl, the state she’s in, and tell me I should stop.”

  Mabel sighed, shaking her head. “You’re trying to stop a wildfire with a half-empty water bottle.”

  “Does that mean that you want to stop, Mabel?” Tessa’s throat dried at the idea, but she couldn’t force her friend to risk her life. “If you want to quit, I won’t hold it against you.”

  “Shut up! Don’t you dare even think that’s what I’m saying. You know very well why I agreed to help you. Don’t you dare doubt my commitment.”

  Tessa took her hand in hers. “I never doubted you and never will. I care about you.”

  Mabel calmed down and patted her cheek. “I know, honey. I know.”

  Tessa finished filling out the form as two paramedics came into the room with a gurney. Mabel made sure the girl was carefully wrapped in blankets, not only to keep her warm in the fall weather, but to make sure nobody recognized her on her way out. With an oxygen mask in place, the plan was foolproof.

  In a matter of minutes, they loaded her into the ambulance and were gone.

  Tessa stayed a minute in the cool morning air, the first colors of dawn lightened the sky as she watched the taillights of the ambulance disappear around the corner.

  The noise from the awakening city started to make its way into her brain, and fatigue and stress crawled all over her, making her shiver.

  The new day announced the end of her shift. It took her a few more minutes to get her body to move and her feet to take her back inside, but her thoughts remained with Allison and Mabel.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tessa slept like a log through her days off. Her body felt heavy, her mind foggy, enticing her to stay rolled up under the covers, curtains drawn, ignoring the outside world. Albeit, not entirely; she kept her cell phone close until the message from Mabel popped up, confirming that Allison was settled with Nigel and she was back home, safe and sound.

  Once she had that confirmation, it was as if her body simply shut down once more. A dreamless state where time didn’t exist, apart from a ghost with sea-green eyes who teased her, who seemed so close, but every time stayed out of reach.

  It was with a lingering headache and a growling stomach that Tessa
finally resurfaced. Disoriented at first, she stretched her body, wincing until she could walk to the main window of her little apartment. Opening the curtain, night enveloped the city, making her wonder what time it was. She had four days off, she couldn’t sleep through all of them.

  Still fuzzy, she hopped into a steaming shower, and let the heat pulse over her skin, awakening every cell, making her feel like her old self again.

  After so many rounds at the hospital, it wasn’t surprising for her to see her fridge almost empty, or with a few rotting items. It may be nearly ten, but she knew a few places down the street that remained open past midnight. And some fresh air would do her good.

  Dressing quickly in a pair of jeans, a woolen sweater, her favorite pair of boots and her denim jacket, she decided against taking her purse and only took a few bills and her cell phone.

  As she stepped into the night air, Tessa zipped her jacket. Fall was coming early this year and the temperatures were already dropping. Not that she minded, she loved fall. The smell of falling leaves, the rain in the wind, even in the city, it was something she appreciated dearly every time she went outside.

  What she really loved was gloomy rainy days when she was off work. There was something peaceful in watching water fall from the sky through the windows while cozying up by a fireplace or reading a book. None of which she had done in a long time. Work always took precedence.

  Mabel had been right, she badly needed time off. Not the in-between crazy shifts time off, but a real break, one without a pager, unexpected calls coming in, or demands asking her to extend her shifts.

  Lazy morning and endless evenings. It sounded so lovely.

  Lost in her thoughts, Tessa heard someone running behind her. There were so many joggers at all times of the day, she instinctively stepped to the right to let him pass. She yelped when the jogger didn’t run past her, but bumped into her so hard, she stumbled forward. Expecting to fall on the ground, she was surprised when a pair of strong arms circled her waist preventing the impact.

  Everything happened so fast that Tessa didn’t have time to react when a van screeched to a stop beside her on the street, and the jogger all but slung her inside. Her body hit the metal wall so hard, she feared she’d fractured some bones. But worry about possible injuries took a backseat when a large shadow pinned her down, and as she screamed, placed a cloth over her nose and mouth. Her last thought as she fell into unconsciousness was her wish that whatever happened would be quick and painless.

  Someone was crying nearby. It sounded like Allison. The thought insinuated itself through her drugged mind until Tessa finally regained control of her body and opened her eyes. Blinking several times, she realized that wherever she was, it was almost pitch black, and it took a couple more minutes for her eyes to adjust and distinguish between the various shades of dark. Light was coming through the cracks of what appeared to be the only door. Around her were several people, and from what she could hear, some of them were young girls. One check of her pockets told her that her kidnappers had taken her phone away.

  Straightening into a sitting position, Tessa cradled her pounding head for a moment, breathing in and out to keep her wits together. She was still alive. Whatever happened, she needed to stay that way and get out of there. It took some effort, but she finally got on her feet with the help of a nearby wall. Her first instinct was to try to pound the door down. Using her fingertips, she touched the cold metal door, feeling her way to the knob and tried to turn it very slowly so as not to make a noise. As she expected, it was locked. The more her eyes accustomed to the shadows, the more she was able to see details. No windows—it appeared to be an industrial cooler. Bodies moved in the dark, huddled together.

  Tessa was about to turn and approach the other prisoners, when a noise came from outside the door. The sudden light rendered her blind, making it impossible to evade being grabbed and pulled by her arms out of her cell.

  As soon as she could see, a scream caught in her throat. A man was standing in what appeared to be the middle of a warehouse. There was fresh blood on the concrete floor. A man who looked like a bear dragged her forward, making her stop about six feet from the first man. Two others grabbed her wrists pulling them behind her back, securing them in handcuffs. One of her captors pushed on her shoulders to make her kneel, and when she sidestepped, he backhanded her. The shock made her fall, and she could taste blood on her tongue.

  It was a fight to keep her fear under control when all she wanted was to crumble into a puddle of tears. Instead, she clenched her jaw and looked up again. This time, Tessa forced herself to lock eyes with her warden. The man looked as if he had been in so many fights, none of his features were in their original place. Well in his fifties, he was more fat than muscular, the opposite of most of the men surrounding him. The horrible grin on his face revealed how much he loved frightening and beating his victims.

  When Tessa tried to get up, the man behind her pulled her up by the hair. Screaming at the pain, the hold kept her in place with her back arched.

  “What do you want? Why am I here?”

  He slowly approached, clearly amused. “Doctor, you’re a smart woman. I’m sure you know why we invited you here.”

  His finger traced her cheek, making her shiver in disgust, before cupping her chin. “You can’t expect to steal from me and walk away unscathed.”

  “I didn’t steal anything. I don’t even know you.”

  Tessa was proud she’d spoken with such a steady voice, so she appeared in control of herself.

  His hold on her face tightened causing her to wince. “Don’t irritate me. I know what you’ve done. You stole a girl from me. And that means the loss of a lot of money for me.”

  It dawned on her that he was talking about Allison.

  “I admire your heart, Doctor. But playtime is over. Where is she?”

  Something relaxed inside her despite the danger of her situation. That monster didn’t know where Allison was. That meant that she was safe. They were all safe. “You can’t own a person.”

  Another hideous smile, but his hold on her face lessened. “I see you still believe in fairytales. I’m pleased I’ll be the one that opens your eyes. I could beat your pretty face until you tell me where she is. What do you think about that?”

  A shiver of fright almost made her knees seize. The man who held her, maintained his tight hold, forcing her body to bow even more.

  Not that she wanted to be beaten, but the look on Allison’s face convinced her that breaking and revealing her location couldn’t happen. But she was lucid enough to know the consequences. “How much is she worth?”

  Men all around boomed with laughter at her question, but in her current position, she could only look forward.

  “You’re funny, Doctor. Even with your salary, I doubt you could ever repay me what she’s worth. That girl was a nice, prime piece of ass. I had her booked with exclusive, very high-end clients, from now, ’till her tits started sagging.” And the monster cupped her own breast, squeezing hard. “You have what it takes, although you’re much older than she is. Maybe we can market you differently.”

  At his leering mouth so close to her, the awful smell of his breath, her body reacted, and she kneed him. He was too close to get enough velocity, but the sound he made was satisfying.

  When he straightened with a string of foul curses, he slapped her even harder. The man who was holding her pushed her to the ground and with her hands bound behind her, there was no way to protect herself. The shock of hitting the concrete rattled every bone in her body, and through the pain, she was glad that her head didn’t hit first.

  Trying to get her bearings, Tessa heard voices above her. “You’re going to pay for that, bitch. By the time me and my crew are done with you, you’ll respect me.”

  “I never thought you were the kind of man to pound on the goods, Luther.”

  Now rolled into a tight ball, ready for the first blows, Tessa froze at the newcomer’s voice. And from the
silence in the room, she wasn’t the only one surprised. Was the new man with an army for this group to be on its guard and waiting? Maybe if she didn’t move, they would forget about her. And if she was really lucky, they would all kill each other so she could walk away.

  “I didn’t know you were coming tonight, Locke. I swear you go through girls like nobody I know.”

  “What can I say? I love to fuck.”

  The men around laughed again, but she recognized a certain level of discomfort. They feared him. Or was it respected him? There was a fine line between the two. She heard someone walking toward her. It wasn’t rushed, but calm and calculated, but assessing. “You promised me a girl. Is that her?”

  Luther almost spit his answer. “I wish. No. She stole the girl away from us, stashed her away and won’t tell me where. Not yet at least.”

  More silence.

  “I love her hair. Is she for sale?”

  “They are never for sale. You know I only do rentals.”

  “And yet, I always end up buying them from you.”

  Luther sniffed. “This one is not for sale. She owes me a debt. A big one.”

  More walking around. “Is this a way of making me pay a higher price?”

  “No, not at all. I would never do that to you, Locke.”

  This time, she definitively heard something in Luther’s voice, yet Tessa wasn’t reassured. If that monster was cautious about the newcomer, what should she think about him? She had to find a way out, an escape and quick, and preferably without getting acquainted with any more dangerous criminals.

  Her head much clearer as her pain receded to a manageable level, her eyes fell on a pair of black boots inches from her face. She prayed they wouldn’t notice her, but knew that wasn’t possible, so there wasn’t anything to do but wait.

  Tessa flinched when the man before her crouched and pushed her wealth of curls from her face. Squirming away, she prepared to defend herself even with her hands behind her back when her gaze slid to the man’s face. Her entire being froze as she met the sea-green eyes that had filled her mind so much lately.